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Avoid These 5 Mistakes When Choosing a Business Long Distance Provider

The market is flooded with long distance companies and services, so choosing the right business long distance provider can be much trickier than you might think. In order to avoid the problems encountered by those who came before you, take a minute to view the five mistakes that are made all too often when selecting a business long distance provider.

1. Assuming the Lowest Price is the Lowest Cost

It’s easy to hone in on low monthly or per/minute rates when settling on a business long distance provider. Unfortunately, those rates aren’t the only thing you can end up paying for. A number of companies have hidden fees that can quickly take that $35.00 per/month rate and turn it into a $55.00 per/month bill.

Some companies also have minimums attached to their plans, so you only get that fantastic $.09 per/minute rate if you meet the minimum minute requirement. If not, the business long distance provider will tack on a penalty to your bill. In order to avoid this situation stick to “reading the fine print” and making sure you know exactly what you’re paying for each month.

2. Choosing a Plan That Doesn’t Suit Your Business

An ancient man of infinite wisdom once said, “Know thyself.” While he was working on the larger philosophical questions of life, his sentiment can be easily applied to the process of choosing a business long distance provider. What works for the corporate empire down the street might not work for your five-person office. Ask yourself the following questions: Who is using the service and when are they using it? How long are you going to be in the same office? Is your business due for a significant growth spurt in the not-too-distant future?

Your answers will dictate the service that’s right for your company, and they will affect the business long distance provider you choose. For more information on business long distance providers visit our Business Long Distance Service Buyer’s Guide.

3. Confining Your Search to the Big Boys

Industry Goliath’s like AT&T, Sprint, and MCI have been around for a long time and they do have something to offer for some companies. However, there are a large number of smaller business long distance providers that offer the exact same equipment and the exact same voice quality as their larger counterparts. Often, smaller companies will feature lower prices and give your company a level of attention and customer service that you won’t find from the giants.

4. Signing Long-term Commitments with a Business Long Distance Provider

There are certain services such as T1 long distance that will require you to make a commitment for a year or two. If you’re staying in the same facility for that length of time, the commitment is well worth it. However, getting drawn into a four or five-year contract can greatly limit your options and end up costing you far more than you need to spend. As new technology is introduced, rates tend to decrease. This means you can get locked into high costs while everyone else around you is paying less to their business long distance provider. If a contract is more than one or two years, don’t sign it.

5. Receiving Only One Quote from One Business Long Distance Provider

Every business long distance provider is going to offer something unique. It might be their monthly long distance rates, their customer service, or their special features. Limiting your search to a single quote greatly diminishes your chances of finding the perfect plan for your company.

Now, there are two basic ways you can go about obtaining multiple quotes. The first requires you to flip through the Yellow Pages and make countless calls while hoping to find a business long distance provider that offers the right services at the right price. The other way to get free multiple quotes is to use the service we provide at 360Telecommunications. We connect you to up to five business long distance providers who will already know your criteria. The service saves you time, makes your life a little easier, and helps you choose between the best plans that are available for your company. All that, and it doesn’t cost you a dime. Click here to receive up to five free business long distance quotes.

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